The owners want to pay the players less than what they originally signed them for, doesn't that render the contract no longer legally binding? Can they play in other leagues instead of coming back to the NHL when they finally reach a CBA agreement as Ovechkin has stated he would like to do.

The owners want to pay the players less than what they originally signed them for, doesn't that render the contract no longer legally binding? Can they play in other leagues instead of coming back to the NHL when they finally reach a CBA agreement as Ovechkin has stated he would like to do.

The owners want to pay the players less than what they originally signed them for, doesn't that render the contract no longer legally binding? Can they play in other leagues instead of coming back to the NHL when they finally reach a CBA agreement as Ovechkin has stated he would like to do.

From what I understand, the KHL acknowledges NHL contracts and won't let players continue playing if an agreement is reached. Alex Ovechkin threatened not to return to the NHL if salaries were slashed, but I think the they would get in big trouble if they tried to retain him. They'd have to find some sort of loophole in the agreement they made. Here is a link from a while back.

Additionally, the KHL made a bunch of rules in anticipation of the lock-out. Players can only be signed to contracts if they have played >150 games in the NHL in the last three seasons, previously played in the KHL, represented their country in international play, or were at some point an Stanley Cup finalist/award winner. Each team can only sign a max of 3 NHL players. Also, every KHL contract must have an out clause in case the NHL resumes play. Here is the link.

What Jimmy D said was interesting. The players are no longer covered by the NHL's health insurance plan, so if they get injured playing in another league, the owners may not be required to fulfill the remainder of their contract. Things could get messy in that regard. I think some of the players who have not ventured out of the league to play may be doing it for that reason. If they are recovering from injuries now and aggravate them in another league, they might find themselves to be in trouble down the line. We've always talked about Z and his back issues and Helm who just recently had wrist surgery.

Edited by The Nephilim, 23 September 2012 - 08:17 PM.

Formerly known as The Nephilim.

QUOTE (Amberoonie)
Babs sure hurries himself into the presser, sits down, and f*cks up a bottle of water like no one in the room has had any for days.